Faith Williston

BFA Auburn University

Faith graduated from Auburn in 1983. After graduation she spent the next twenty years traveling the country with her husband and three sons. She and her family have settled here in Ocean Springs. Faith uses her talent by painting landscapes and by making textile works. She travels to New York, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, and Canada teaching textiles to her students.

She learned how to hook in 1990 and she has been hooking ever since. She attended McGown Teachers’ Workshop to attain her teaching certification. She continues her education in rug hooking by attending workshops and going to different teachers for more knowledge. Faith is also the director of Southeastern Teachers’ Workshop. She teaches locally and has ongoing classes at home.

Everyone seems to know about landscape painting, yet few know about traditional rug hooking. Faith does many lectures to educate others and tell them that hooking is considered to be American’s one indigenous form, first appeared in the eighteenth century in Atlantic Canada and New England. At that time the textiles were made to cover old bare floors and most designs were very primitive. Using the same method of rug hooking, Faith hand dyes her wool, designs the rug and is in control of the color and final piece, much like painting with wool.

Faith’s work has been published in Rug Hooking Magazine, Celebrations, Creative Rug Hooking, Hooked Rugs of the Deep South and her work has been recognized as one of the Best in Show at the McGown National Convention in 2007